Coating ceramic articles



Sept. 7, 1943. E. H; FlscHl-:R 2,329,114

COATING CERAMIC ARTICLES Filed July 24, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l WITNESSES: INVENTOR sept. 7, 1943. E. H, FISCHER 2,329,114

GOATING CERAMIC ARTICLES A Fired July 24, 1940 4 sheets-.sheen s E.- H. FISCHER 2,329,114

COATING CERAMIC ARTICLES Filed July 24, 1940 sept.v 7, .1943.

4 Sheets-Sneet 4 INVENTOR WITNESSES:

"EW M 'WW @n tions thereon. .1

`Patented*'Sept.-27,1943 l contorno certaine- An'rionns'v r lEugene, Hfl'iischcrfgDeri-y, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, Y East Pittsburgh, ,Paja corporation of'llennn l Sylvania.

Appucatien July 24, 194e?, sei-rainning@ i0 claims. v ,golfer-fin 'Ihepresentv invention relates to the coating of ceramic articles,nandlit has particular relation to a 'method' andappa'ratusfor applying a glaze coatingtoy electrical insulators of ceramic vrnaterial. Although not limited thereto, the invention is especially-applicabletothe coating ofinsu`` laters of thepin type. i f i .f

`The usual practice in coating ceramic articles, such as porcelain insulators, has been'r to place the article ona suitable pin or holder and im` merseit inf a'container filled to a sufcient'height with liquid glaze material. Considerableloss has occurrr'eol'.fromv this methodk because air.' is often entrapped on the surface of the article, 'andale though' it appears tobe vcompletelyI covered, a

number of small bare spots often occur upon fir#- ing. .This, of course, makes-'itf'nece'ssary to repeat, the expensive firing operation. Also, in this dip` glazing process rthere has. been no suitable way ofy preventing the'.V glaze lfrom running in streaks, and causingtear-like formations 'on the.

lowest drain-off points.' These tear-like yformations being naturally heavierv in coating thickness ythan is desired, have a-tenden'oy'to crawl or pull from the thinner 'glaze and frequently cause bare spots which also necessitate retiring.` Further, there is adenite limit'tc th'e'speed with which articles may bel glazed by this method. Y

CTI

'l It is, accordingly, ani-object of the present invention to-provide fa' novel andimproved method y and apparatus vfor coating ceramic articles.

Another object of the invention .is to pro vide apparatusiior. applying'a uniform coating of glaze materialto ceramic articles. v s E tis another obie'ctof the invention to provide improved apparatusffor automatically applying acomplete 'and uniform coating of glaze on a pine typeelectricalinsulator. Y ,1

A further object yof the invention islto provide a novel andfimproved nozzle for applying coating material toa ceramic article.

Other objects yand advantages ofthe invention i will Aappear from 'the following', detailed 'descriptionftaken inf'conjunction with the 'accompanying drawinga infwhich: f

L ligurerlfis a plane view. with'parts in ,section of i apparatus for performing the invention; l-i;

l Fig. 2 is a side elevational view ofA the vapparatus of'lig. l; Y j f y n w Eig. 3 is a lview principally in vertical section y cf aportio'n of the apparatusiof Figsrl, and 2;

Fig; 'F4 i is elevationall vViewv taken along, the linefi' of Fig'bfBat a reduced scaleof the intermittent driving mechanism employed?k vg a 'Another'prior artfcoating/nethod consists of spraying coating'material in an atomized form upon a rotating article.' With thisv method it is extremely difficult to obtain la ysufficiently uni-v form coating overthe yentire surface, particularly with thev so-calledpin-type high-tensionfjinsu'-, lators whichhavesurface creepage flanges ofv considerable depth,r This yis"due ,to4 the surfaces next the ,atomizi'ngf nozzle accumulatingumore material than A.thosev distantjfrom it and to, the existence of a turbulent air condi-tion caused by the above mentioned irregular surfaces.

Viccording ,tov the present invention, aparticu- 1ar1y uniform coating is obtained bysprayingthe glazing material while in *liqui'dfiorm onto the article from arplurality of directions.v At'jgth'e lsame time .the article is rotatedto cause' the vveri-- tire exposed suriaceto be coated. Aiterithe liquid material Ais `sprayed thereon', the article i's;-,moved to a predetermined positionatV which hot air .or some `other drying' vmedi'urn'fis employed in order to^ suiiicie'ntly dryphe coating rmaterial;'before removingitifromthe apparatus-- The articlefsare j Fig; 5 is an, eleva-tionalfview at an `enlarged scale ofthespray nozzle shown'in Fig.` 2; FigJG-is a' sectional view' takenA alongthe line 6*-5 of'l1"ig5;and`

Fig. '7 is a sectional view 141 of Fig. 5. f f

Referring' to4 Figs.

takenl alongfthel line vertical' column '4 *andsupporting angularly displacedf'arms `carrying insulators 8. YThe index headisarranged'ior intermittent rotation in a horizontaly plane through anA intermittent ldriving y arrangement Ililtwhich `is driven ,byr asynf chronous :motor i2-. Spindles I4 within thearms `liare arrangedto be rotated While at various` posi- Ytioris'loy means-of another synchronous motorin- -dicated at i6. -A spraynozzle I8 is disposed ata position II; which is one of ,positions I throughVI l to'whiclieach of the armsr Sis successively moved through. theintermittent rotationof the index head2; This nozzle I8 is shaped to partly surd l round the insulator 8 at this position and spray pzfeferabiy rotated at a selected'sneed during the rying operation aswell aswhile being co'atedzin. order to preventv .the loccurrencefof tear formal,

thereon liquidk coating material which is supplied t from al receptacle 20.

A semi-circular trough indicated, Iat `ZL? isv disposed under the nozzle i8 and suitable 'piping is provided between thereceptacle ril,"` trough 22,`and a pump 24 tomaintain A,the ,coating nfia'terial vunder* continuous'agitation as will be 'described in detail later.'v A; motor is `-1 andZJ theapparatuscon'- l siste generally 'of an index head2 mounted on athe shaft 32. A gear spacing sleeve 38 which is' supported from the shaft 32 through a 'bearing in turn supports the gear 34 and the remainder of the aforementioned index head drivingconnectio-ns. The lower end of the shaft 32 is seated upon a steel bearing disk 42 within a bearing box 44. n

The intermittent driving arrangement I0 cludes a driving disk 46 which is connected for rotation by the synchronous motor |2. A driving pin 48 is mounted on this disk'for engagement between the spokes of an intermittentor Geneva gear to rotate it a sixth of a revolutionV during a portion of each revolutionof the disk. Asis best shown in Fig. 4, the driving 'disk 48 also includes a cam shoe 52 which is disposed to engage alcurved outer surface 54 ofthe intermittent gear 50 while the driving pin isout of engagement therewith to prevent any` accidental movement at that time. A shaftf is driven from which is disposed the gear 50 and seated within a bushing 58 in a bushing casing which is secured to the vertical casing 4. This shaft passes through an opening 52 within the casing 4 and carries a bevel gear 64 which engages the index head driving gear 34.

A drivinggear 56 is keyed to; thespindle or shaft 32 at 68 andengages another bevel gear I0 which is driven by' the motor Ilithrough shaft 12. The shaft 12 is seated within a bushing 14 in a bushing casingil. The casing 16 is secured to the main or vertical casing 4 around an aperture 18 therein. v

The vertical casing 4 and thebearing box 44 which is disposed therein are both firmly attached to a base member in any suitable manner. In addition to supporting the shafti32 relative tothe base the bearing `box44also defines an is mounted on the index head around each of the aperturesY while an arm 6 extendsA therethrough.

Each of these arms has a trunnion ring secured thereto near its inner endand a horizontal trunnion` pin 92 connects the trunn'ion body 88 and ring 90-to support the arm lin a position pivotalin a vertical plane. Within the arm is4 disposed the spindle 4 to the inner end of which is secured a driving cone 96 which is prefy erably of rubber and which is disposed between flanges 98 and .|00 of a spindle driver |02 secured .tothe upper end `of shaft 32 formovement therewith.I `rThe inner surfaces |04 and |05 of the anges 08 and |00, respectively, are preferably roughened and disposed for-selectiveengagement by the spindle cone 95, depending upon the Vertical position ofthe arm and spindle.

As is shown in Fig. l, the `outer end of eachof the spindles is screw-,threaded at |08 to receive an adapter NYU-which preferably includesarub.-

ber gripping insert H2 atits end. This rubber gripping insert is of such a size that it may be inserted into the pin hole of the'insulator 8. A spindle splash guard H4 which is preferably made of sheet metal is inserted between the arm 6 and the adapter H0, as shown. l v y A track support ring liliis secured to the vertical casing 4 andincludes a pluraltyof arms I8 to which are bolted vertical supports |20. These supports carry a track member |22 against which a'ring |24 on the arm 6 is adapted to rest. The purpose of this track member is to control the vertical position of theV arms and consequently the driving of the spindle |4 in accordance with the angular position of the arms in the horizontal plane. Thus, at position I of 1, the height of the track is suchv that the cone is completely out of engagementwith the spindle driver |02 so that the insulator is not rotated. l-Iowever, at position II, the track is lower and permits the arm to assume a horizontal position whereby the driving coneengages the `upper driving surface |04' of thespindle driver lto rotate the spindle.

from this position to alocation past position V` at which it lowers again toits original height to disengage the driving conefcompletely from a spindle driver.` p l On the open top of .the index head 2 isl disposed a cover |28 having a central aperture through which aI bolt |30 extends into the shaft 32. `This b olt has therein anaxial hole |3| which communicates with a passage |32 in the shaftV 32 to permit oiling of the vertical shaft bearing 33.y A spacer member |33 is provided between a pairof washers |34 and |35 while a sealing gasket |35 is disposed between the cover |28 and the outer washer |34. f

-As is best shown in Fig. 2, a pipe |38 extends from the bottom of the receptacle 20 to the 'spray nozzle i8 to supply `the' coating composition thereto.' In this pipe is located a valve |40 for controllingY theilow rof liquid therebetween. A bypass pipe vindicated at |42 extends from the v receptacle 20 to the interior-of the trough 22 while a drain pipe |44 extends vfrom thelowermost point in the trough to the pump'24. From thispump,` in turn, a supply pipe |46 passes to the upper end of the receptacle 2 0, A relatively coarse lremovable screen |48 (in Fig. l) is preferably placed within the trough 22 at a point just 'below the spray nozzle vlito filterI out foreign material from the insulatorsjwhich might otherwise enter the pumping system, Another and preferably nner screen |50 is located inthe receptacle 20 tofurtherv screen the returning material.

` `The spray vnozzle itself which is best shown in Figs.l 5, 6 and' 7 includes a main tubular body portion `f|52 having a downwardly extending -end at |54.` 'I'his'tubular portion 4is openat its bottom -and inner surfaces andnozzle inserts indicated'at |58 are placedtherein 'to' define a continuous opening into which are placed opening strips |58 to provide vthe staggered openings shown.4 I n order to permit adjustment of the nozzle tofsut various sizes of insulators, an -adjustable arm |60'` is secured tothe horizontal portion of the main body member 'therealong This arm includesa portion |32 which is'similarto the portion |54-and 'onto which are se-V 'f 3. In a Acoating device, a casing rotatable lin substantially a horizontal plane,Y means for driving saidcasing, av plurality" of rotatable arms, means for securing said arms tosaid casing ,in angularly displaced radial relationship for pivotal movement -in substantially a verticaly direction, a horizontallyrotatablemember disposed in said casing and having a pair of vertically displaced annular driving surfaces, means for driving said rotatable member, a driving member secured-to the inner end of each of,said arms and disposed between said drivingsurfaces for selective engagement with either of said driving vsurfaces or disengagement therewith; in accordance with the vertical position of the arms to control the rotary 'movement thereof, means for rsupporting articles to be coated'on the outer'end of said arms for rotation therewith, anda cam` device supporting said arms in pivotal positions differing in accordance with their radial positions.

' 4. In a coating device, a rotatable oasing,'mea'ns said driving'member having an annularl groove for driving saidcasing, a plurality of rotatable arms, lmeans securing saidarms to-,said casing in angularly` displaced radial relationship for pivotal movement relative to the plane of rotation of said casing, means for"y intermittently driving said casing to bring each'of said armsin sequence to a 'pluralityvoi predetermined rotary positions, ahorizontally rotatable member dise posed inv said casingand having a pair of Yannular driving surfaces displaced from each otherin the direction of the axis of I rotation thereof, means for driving said rotatable. member, a driving member secured to the inner end of each of` said arms and disposed between said `driving surfaces for selective engagement with either of said surfaces or disengagement therewith iny accordance with the pivotalposition of the arms to control"l :the vrotary movement thereof', means forsupporting articles tobe coated on the outer portions of said arms for rotation; therewith, and cam meansy for controlling the pivotal location of 'said arms ink accordance with they rotary position thereof to maintain each arm stationary' 1n one of said predetermined positionsand rotating in opposite directions while ineach of` two other' of said predetermined positions. v l

"5. InA a coatingf device, a rotatable casing, means for driving said casing, a plurality of rot'a'ta'ble arms, means Ysecuring said arms .to said 'casing in angularly displaced radial relationship for 'pivotal'movement' relative to the plane of rotation of said casing, a rotatable driving member disposed in said casing Ato rotate about substantially the same yaxis, thereof, said driving member havingpanannular groove in its edge to form a pair of Lannular' driving surfaces displaced from eachother along the axisthereof, a driving'.

6. In -a coating device, a casing rotatable in substantially a horizontal p-lane, means for driv-l fingsaidI casing, aplurality'of arms each of whichy includesa shaft rotatable within a sleeve member,

meanssecuring the sleeve members of said arms c to saidfcasing in angularly displacedy radial relationship for pivotal movement relative to the plane of rotation of said casing, a rotatable driving member disposed-in said casing for rotation Iabout substantially thesameaxis of rotation,

inits edge'to form a pair of annular driving surfaces displaced `from eachother along the axis thereof, a-driving Wheel at the inner end of each arm disposed between said driving surfaces for selective engagement therewith inaccordance with therpivotal position thereof, means for supporting articles to becoated on the outer ends of said arms for rotation therewith, and a cam device supporting said arms in pivotal positions differing in accordance with their radial positions. f

' '7. In a coating device, a'casing rotatable in substantially` a horizontal plane, a'plurality of arms each of whichincludes a shaft yrotatable within a sleeve member, means securing the'sleeve members of said arms to said casingfin angularly displaced radial relationship for pivotal movement relative to the plane oi rotation of said casing, means for intermittently rotatingv said casing to bring each of said arms iii-succession to a plurality of predetermined' positions, aY driving member disposed within said casing for rotation about substantially the axis of rotation thereof, said driving member having an annular groove in its edge to'form a pair of annular driving surfaces displaced from each other along the axis thereof, a'driving Wheel a't the inner end of each arm disposed between said driving surfaces for selective engagement therewith inV accordance with the pivotal position thereomeans for supporting articles to be coated on the outer ends of said arms for rotation therewith, and a cam device for controlling the pivotalposition of leach armin accordance with its radial position to bfingeachl driving Wheel into engagement with a first of said driving members in one of said pref determined radial positions, in Contact with the other said driving wheels in another of said predetermined' positions and out of engagement with both driving members when in athird position.

membeig a driving Amember secured to inner l portion of veach of said arms and dsposedadjacent said driving. surface for selective engage,-

mment therewith in` accordance Vwith the pivotal position of 4the arms to rotate them, means for supporting articles to be treated on the outer portions of said arms for rotation therewith, and a cam device for controlling the pivotal 4position oi said armsin accordance with the rotary position of said casing. A

9,*,In combination, a'casing rotatable in substantiallyfa horizontal plane, a plurality 'oi arms each of which includes a shaftrrotatable within a sleeve member,` means securing the sleeve'members of said arms to said casing in angularly ldisplaced radial relationship for pivotal movement q relative to the plane` of rotation of'said casing, a

tubular driving member secured'to said casing about its axis of rotation, meansl driving said tu bular member iorfintermittently rotating said casingA to ,bring4 each ofsaidV arms in. sequence to a plurality of treating positions, a rotatable member disposed in said casing for rotation about substantially the same axis and having a pair of vertically displaced annular driving surfaces at its outer edge, means for driving'said rotatable member, a driving Wheel secured to the inner end of each oi said arms shafts and disposed between lsaid driving surfaces for selective engagement therewith in accordance With the pivotal position ofv the corresponding said arm,kmeans for supporting an article to be treated on the outer end of each arm for rotation with the'shaft thereof, and a cam device for controlling the pivotal position of said arms in accordance With the treating positions at which they are disposed.

10. In a' coating device, a casing rotatable in substantially a horizontal plane, a plurality of 'arms each of which includes a' shaft rotatable yWithin a sleeve member, means securing the sleevek members of said arms to said casing in angularly -v ldisplaced radial relationshipv foripivotal movement in a vertical plane,a tubular driving member secured to said casing about its axis of rotation, means driving said tubular member lfor intermittently rotating said casing to bring each of spositions, a rotatable member disposed in said casing for rotation about substantially the same e axis and having a pair of vertically displaced annular driving surfaces at its outer edge, means said cam being designed to maintain each arm in a non-rotating position at a first of said Work positions, in ar position to be rotated by one of' said annular driving surfaces in a second of said work positions and in a position to be driven by the other said driving surface while in a third work position, means for supporting an article to be coated on the outer end of each arm for rotation by the shaft thereof, and means at said second Work position for spraying coating mate- Y rialk on an article supported thereat.

said arms in sequence to a plurality of working EUGENE H. FISCHER. 

